Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Special Edition) [PS2]

What really stands out for me, though, is the absolutely kick-ass soundtrack and voice acting. Boasting a cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson and Chris Penn as Officers Tenpenney and Polaski, James Woods as Mike Toreno, and Charlie Murphy as a self-absorbed pimp named Jizzy, the talent available here is top notch. Up and coming rapper Young Malay is perfect in his role as CJ too, while all the supporting characters are of Hollywood caliber.

The soundtrack is just as strong, and in many ways, much better than Vice City's was. Classic 90s staples like the Stone Temple Pilots, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Guns 'N Roses, and Boyz II Men make up a rather extensive eleven-station presentation. The commentary is completely dynamic too -- with sounds that differ based on what kind of car you're driving and what kind of adjustments have been made to its sound system. Strangely there's no DTS this time around, but we did get Dolby Pro Logic II.

While we're on the subject of presentation, owners of the new Special Edition version of the game can also look forward to two bonus discs with extra content on them. The first, and by far the more interesting for players, will probably be "The Introduction" -- the same 30-minute movie that accompanied the smaller San Andreas soundtrack late last year. It offers some awesome background info on all the characters and their motivations coming into the opening events of San Andreas, and on the whole is pretty damned cool. The second disc is a slickly-produced full-length documentary known as "Sunday Driver" and tells the story of Compton's Low-riding "Majestics" club. Gearheads and Mod freaks will likely dig this, but its mixed messages and tendency to preach (and preach inaccurately, I might add) about the lawfulness of low-riding can wear on the nerves.

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